PS 1095 fl 

B34L5 LIZINKA, 

1881 
Copy 1 



AND OTHKR POKMS 



BY ROBERT T. BENTLEY. 



.V. 1 SH VILLE, TENN. 
1881. 



LIZINKA, 



AND OTHER POEMS 



BY ROBERT T. BENTLEY. 



NASHVILLE, TENX. 
1881. 



LIZIMA, A^^D OTHER POEMS. 



LIZINKA. 



Land of tlie Soutli ! If tlirougli tliy sunny meads, 

All verdiiiit with the velvet-tufied grass, 

J>y flowers fragrant jeweled as a queen — 

If by tliy gentle slopes of giant trees, 

Tliat speak tliy praises in tlieir waving crests, 

Or 'neatli tliy mountain-peaks of azure hue, 

That wear the circling cl<»udiet as a crown — 

There flows a gentler river than the rest, 

Of graceful bend and murmur sweet, it is 

Thy beauliful, thy lovely Tennessee! 

And if upon tliy banks, thou gentle stream. 
Kissed by thy waves, and drinking of thy flood, 
There is a country fairer to be seen 
Tlian other lands, caught up in thine embrace, 
'Tis Alabama — land of Here ivercst! 

Sweet land and river! to thy fairest scenes 
Of days sigone — forgoftpn n« a drpinn. 



•4 V Lizhika, and Other Poems. 

Ere war's destructive bosom o'er them swept, 
Yet with some relic still to claim our love — 
My willing Muse hath led me to recall 
A life of beauty, but of fading dreams. 

It was the spring-time sweet — morn of the year — 

Apt emblem of the early days of life! 

For when it comes our childish joys return; 

Age drinks again th' elixir of its youth ; 

AVhile on the roseate cheek of youth appears 

A lovelier bloom! Ay, 'twas in that sweet time — 

When murmuring streams their cadences suppressed, 

To listen for the rustling of some leaf 

That scarcely moved by breath of dying winds; 

When birds, cm pinions poised in limpid skies, 

Seemed loth to move lest they should break the spell, 

And all the world had found sweet quietude 

Of })eaceful hours within the lap of May — 

Beneath a checkered shade of leafy woods 

A picture was; and it was beautiful— 

So lovely that it would have made you glad 

But to behold Lizinka's beauty rare. 

Around her were the trees all newly robed 

From spring's bright garniture of glistening green. 

That, by their gentle swayings to and fro, 

Let in the lambent light — the light that played 

Upon the verdant grass. Above, beyond. 

In festoons graceful, flecked with bursting buds, 



Lizinka, and Other Poems. * 5 

And with half-opened flowers of perfume sweet, 

Hung vines luxuriant; and in the midst 

Of that ricli coloring, by Nature wiought, 

Of azure soft, and green most delicate, 

Of crimson deep, and tender purpling. 

She stood unrivaled, but eclipsing all, 

As childhood's queen of beauty and of love. 

Upon that lovely morning she had strayed 
From her sweet cottage home into the woods, 
To gather up some flowers wild and rare 
For her sick mother's chamber, where she lay 
Upon her suffering couch, and since the days 
Of falling leaves when she had withered too. 

O fair and lovely child ! what shall I say 

To paint thine image true upon this page? 

eyes of blue, like to the azure sky! 

O golden locks, like sunbeams wreathed in one! 

O dimpled cheeks, with hue of faintest rose ! 

O form exquisite as the graceful swan ! 

Thy beauty was a spirit which no form 

Of language lame could ever tell its worth! 

When she had filled her basket with the wealth 

Of floral offerings from the ample wood. 

As on her face there beamed a gladsome smile 

Of childish satisfaction when is done 

Some errand that shall make a parent glad, 



6 Lizliika, and Other Poems. 

Slie homeward turned, and with a merry song 
Tiiat made all Nature wake along her wa}'', 
She soon was hidden in the chist'ring trees. 

Ten summers, with their sunshine and tlieir bloom, 

Had passed away, and marked Lizinka's age : 

A period of undisturbed joy, 

Save one dark shade of sorrow's gloomy cloud. 

That fell athwart the dawning of her life. 

For then it was that death came through that door 

For the first time, and laid his icy hand, 

In cold embrace, upon her father's form. 

Five years had closed her prattling infancy, 

And marked her with the features of a child, 

When the destroyer came. But slie could tell, 

From mind impressible, what had been done ; 

There waved within her fancy sable plumes, 

As from the past came tones of solemn bells, 

Mixed with the sobs and moans of broken hearts ; 

She saw the tears fall from her mother's eyes, 

And heard her say (as if but yesterday), 

'• My little girl has no dear father now," 

As close she pressed her to her heaving breast. 

Then tell me not that childhood cannot feel 
The weight of sorrow in the wake of death, 
That crushes older hearts ; it is not true ; 
For in its tender nature, innocent, 
There dwells a sympathy like to our own, 



Lizliil-a, and Other Poems. 

But ill a purer state. The tender bud, 
Wheu fir?:t it opes its petals to the morn, 
Exhales a fragrance sweeter than at eve, 
And falls at gentler touch. 

Lizinka soon, 
With richest gifts of floral offerings, 
Had reached her home, and with a happy lieart 
Had poured her treasures at her mother's feet, 
Who in return, with her emaciate hand. 
Her kindest blessing gave, in these fond words: 
*' My darling child has been so good to-day 
To bring me flowers from the far-off wood, 
I must imprint upon her cheek a kiss." 
On saying which she drew her to her side, 
And with her lips of ashen paleness pressed 
Her soft and rosy cheek, which seemed to be 
The kissing of the lily and the rose. 
Then she continued : "Go, Lizinka dear. 
And gather up the flowers from the floor: 
Place them in the window, in a vase. 
Beside my bed, where gentlest winds may blow 
And waft their sweetness on their balmy wings 
Into my room ; for soon this world, methinks, 
With all its light and bloom, shall fade to me, 
As I go upward to the better land." 

Obedient to her mother's gentle will 
(Which she was never known to disobey), 



8 Lizinka, and Other Poems. 

With willing hanrls slie went, but with her lieart 
All saddened by tliose strange, prophetic words, 
And gathered up the flowers. Soon in the vase, 
And in its crystal flood, in loveliness 
Appeared a sweet and beautiful bouquet, 
Tiiat would have gotten praise for oMer hands. 
But ere she turned from her fond task away, 
That she might hide the ris?ings of her grief, 
There fell upon those flowers a crystal tear — 
Their first baptism from affection's font, 
And holier than the dew. 

With grief o'erwrought, 
That could not be suppressed, she left the room. 
That she might not afflict her mother's heart 
With sobs and tears, but seek some lonely spot 
"To weep alone. As she passed out those eyes 
That had looked in her own ten years with joy — • 
Kindling at their light, or, when they wept. 
Shed sympathetic tears — followed her form 
Keceding out of sight. And that sweet voice. 
That had so often pleased her with its songs, 
But then was growing weaker day by day. 
Spake words of sadness in presentiment. 
And faintly said, " My child, weep not for me, 
But for thyself — thy sorrows shall be great. 
For though thou W'ast the treasure of two hearts, 
In bonds of love (but one forever gone), 
Thy father's pet — thy mother's only joy — 



Lizlnka, and Other Poems. 9 

Yet in a few more day?!, when De:ith sliall take 

Anotlier of Ins victims, thou shalt he 

A lonely orplian liere. For in lliiiie eyes 

I see a sliadow that must shortly tell 

Tiiat youth is not all sprin«^, nor life all Mny ; 

"Wljile in thy w readied tresses I can rea«l 

A checkered life of sunshine and of shade — 

Its golden and its gloom. Who, then, my child, 

When I am goue shall braid thy silken hair. 

And kiss the tears from off thy rosy cheek? 

Who shall caress thee for thine own love's sake. 

Or listen to thine evening orisons, 

And put thee in thy little bed to rest? 

Who shall instruct thy feet into the light 

Of wisdom's ways? or guide thy spirit pure 

Up to the sun-bright clime? I cannot tell. 

But unto thee, O Lord, I trusting look ; 

And to thee, as my Shepherd, give my lamb. 

And say. Amen !" 

At this she gently sank. 
Saying no more, into a quiet sleep, 
Like unto death. 

The bright and sunny hours 
Of merry ^^ay went on; birds sung their songs, 
And built their downy nests among the leaves; 
Lambs ski[)ped and played along the meadow 

streams, 
Or rested in the sun on grassy hills; 



10 Lizinka, and Other Poems. 

The busy bee, witli music in her wings, 
Led on from bloom to bloom the insect ranks, 
That sipped sweet nectar from the flowery fields; 
And grew the days still brighter one by one, 
Until was reached the full-tide flow of spring, 
In melody and peace. 

But what to her 
AVho neared the stream of death, and felt its waves 
Lash coldly o'er her feet, was such as this, 
But antetype of that bright vernal land 
That soon would rise in everlasting bloom? 

Then came the day, as all such days will come, 
A day of sadness in the midst of joy. 
And put a period to a gentle life. 
For she who lay upon her suffering couch. 
Long waiting for the hour of her release. 
Began to feel approaching death, and saw 
The deepening shadows of his sable wings, 
That crept upon her as the twilight steals 
Upon a weary v,orld, and brings the night. 

That day had passed the noontide of its light; 
And down the western circle of his track 
Sank the bright sun, an hour above the hills; 
While through the parting branches of the trees, 
That cast their dappled shadows on the grass, 
Into an open window poured his rays, 
As streams of liquid gold. 



Liz'mka, and Other Poems. 11 

As oft before, 
Drinking the radiant light of many a sun, 
Within that window stood tli' accustomed vase, 
O'erflowing still with bloom of flowers wild — 
Flowers plucked by fair Lizinka's hand 
For her who loved " the softening winds to blow, 
And waft tlieir fragrance sweet on balmy wings 
Into her room." For she was lying there, 
As heretofore, in that calm, quiet sleep. 
Like unto death. The flowers caught the light, 
And, breathing it to fragrance, let it fall 
In all its softening splendor on that face. 
As fall the moonbeams pale on driven snow. 

Beside the bed where her sick mother lay 

Lizinka knelt, while on the other side 

Stood a dear friend, who had attended there 

Since the first days of serious illness came. 

She was a friend indeed, which she had proved 

By tireless watchings through the silent nights — 

True as a sentinel, and all aK)ne — 

And now, when near the end, was faithful still. 

And more, if possible, that she might catch 

The latest whisper of the dying lips. 

And so upon that day — that final day — 

She had not passed a moment from the room. 

But, ever ready, sat to make reply 

To every want of her, her dying friend. 



12 Lizinha, and Other Poems. 

Just as Lizinka knelt, as said before, 

To kiss her cheek for the last time, perhaps, 

Wliile life was there, her mother woke; and, as 

One waketii quickly from a dream of peace. 

All wreathed in smiles unearthly, softly said : 

" I have been almost home — wliy call me back ? 

Why wake me, darling, with that honeyed kiss? 

I know I love thee, and I feel thy love. 

And would not chide thee for that loving kiss 

For all this world. But I 've been almost home, 

I've seen in vision through the pearly gates, 

Have heard angelic songs, and caught the strains 

Of golden harps' undying melody. 

Thy father, love, is now within the room, 

Who did return with me but to await 

The summons for my change. Then I must talk 

While life is mine, or ere I shall depart." 

Then turning to her friend, whose eyes wept tears 

Of ecstasy and love ; whose trembling form 

Bespoke the cup of heavenly bliss o'erflowed, 

She said : " The time is now at hand when I, 

My dearest friend, must leave thee in this world. 

Thy loving kindness I can ne'er repay ; 

But with the hope that I shall meet you soon 

Within the fiiir and sun-bright climes above, 

I must pronounce the sad, sad word, Farewell! 

Take my Lizinka as thy precious charge, 

And treat her as I would — I know you will. 



Llzlnka, and Other Poems. 13 

One time I tliou<^lit slie would be left alone 
In this col«l world, but now am satisfied." 
Then, with her hand uplifted, and her face 
Beaming with joy, in sweeter accent said : 
" For unto thee, O Lord, I trusting look ; 
And to thee, as my Shepherd, give my lamb, 
And say, Amen ! " At this she gently sank 
As into quiet sleep, and she was dead. 

Down sank the wearied sun ; the mystic stars, 
With their cold light, shone forth along the skies; 
With folded wings the day-birds ceased their songs. 
As hushed the murmurs of the evening wind, 
And all was left to silence and to death. 

Another day had come and passed away, 
Filled with recitals of the late sad scene; 
And in God's Acre, 'neath the willow-trees, 
Another mound, adorned by loving hands 
With verdant wreaths and floral crosses fair; 
Wiiile in a cottage by the river-side 
Another orphan wept. 

O Orphanage ! 
Thou art a tender flower on mountains bleak ; 
A bird of weary wing on ocean's waste, 
That seeks an aimless rest. 

Days came and went, 
Bringing new scenes, and bearing them away 
With such tiansition rapid that tlie days. 



14 • Liziiika, and Other Poems. 

So overfrauglit with sadness and with pain 
Soon took their places with forgotten tilings, 
And all seemed briglit again. 

'T was in siicli truce 
Of sorrows militant Lizinka sat, 
Conversing with her friend — lier mother's friend — 
(To her more than a friend) about such things 
Of which slie hked to speak : her motlier's love. 
Which was so richly lavished upon her; 
And then, with pain, a})Out her mother's death : 
Why it should be; and she left all alone. 
"I never thought," she said, '' that she who loved 
And lived for me would die. Although I know 
That every one must die, as I was told, 
And told by her; but I could not believe, 
As to the fact, that s/ie should ever die. 
I thought the time, if it should ever come, 
Would be so far away I did not care ; 
And so I lived in confidence and joy. 
But soon there came a time when I could see. 
As \sA\ as learn from solemn words I caught. 
That she would die, which almost broke my heart. 
Then I remembered that my father died. 
But was so young I did not feel it much. 
My mother though, you know, was with me more, 
Which made me love her witli a stronger love. 
And shudder when I thought that she must die; 
Now it is true." 



Lizinka, and Other Poems. ' 15 

Wlien she had spoken thus, 
She boweil her hea<l and wept. 

Then >^aid her friend : 
" Lizinka, do not weep, for I am here ; 
And I will be your motlier— you my child— 
And love you as your own dear mother did. 
For on her dying bed I proniis^ed lier, 
And, by tlie help of God, I'll keep my word. 
This life, you know, is full of fa<ling dreams, 
Of pro!nises we never realize, 
Which lesson you must learn while you are young, 
And in the school of stern experience. 
Tiie thought that thy dear mother would not die, 
But live and love thee through the coming years, 
Was thy first dream, and sweetest of thy life; 
And when it vanished, to thy great dismay, 
Tiiou didst awake to sorrow's real world. 
And this may not be all : dreams lie bef )re, 
But to arise touched by the magic wand 
Of sanguine hope. Be not too anxious, then, 
About such promises — they may not be. 
But live to-day, and learn the lessons well : 
That life's a dream that fadeth fast away, 
And 'blessings brighten as they take their flight.'" 



16 JJizinka, and Other Poems. 



VISION OF THE WINE CUP. 



While wrapt in slumbers of the night, 

There rose a vision on my mind — 
A scene of shadows and of light, 

The joys and sorrows of mankind — 
For there I saw before me stand, 

In love and beauty all divine. 
An angel holding in her liand 

A golden chalice filled with wine. 

Said she, " O mortal! wouldst thou know 

The destiny of some on earth? 
Come gaze into this cup of woe. 

Where sin and misery have their birth. 
'Tis true that golden shines the cup, 

And, sparkling, moves the wine within. 
But he that sips a single sup 

Plants in his heart the seeds of sin." 

With trembling hand I took the wine. 
And saw within its ruddy wave. 

As standing on life's steep decline. 
From early youth nnfo the pr-ravp, 



Jjizinka, and Other Poems. 17 

Two geiide ones of prospects briglit: 

A youth in manhood's strength and pride, 

And near him, batlied in beauty's light, 
A maiden fair he called his bride. 

Upon one noble brow I trace<l, 

In bold expressions full and free, 
The sign of noble thoughts incased, 

Tiie index of sobriety. 
While on the other's rosy cheek, 

That flushed with hopes of future years, 
I read the signs that did bespeak 

A happy life without its tears. 

Methonght the world had never given 

Upon the shifting stage of time 
A scene so near akin to lieaven — 

In moral grandeur so sublime ! 
For there, united as forever, 

By love and honor's golden bond. 
Were hearts that death alone could sever, 

Journeying to the life beyond. 

But while I gazed with view entranced, 

The sparkling liquid ** moved aright," 
And like the changing-glass perchanced 

To show to me another sight — 
A sight that caused my blood to chill — 

Mine eyes their bitter tears to start, 

2 



18 Z/idnka, and Other Poems. 

And like an arrow, barbed to kill, 

Tlie shaft of sorrow pierced my heart. 

So clianged that scene of voiitli and love — 

So faded was ils brightest bloom — 
So darkly brooded from above 

The gathering shadows of the tomb — 
Methought that Time, with quickened pace, 

Had flung a hundred years behind — 
Or, like an artist, he had traced 

Some darker picture on my mind. 

But no; the scene which first arose, 

When first I looked into the wine, 
Did by transition but disclose 

New prospects from the same design ; 
Just as we see the morning rise 

To-day in glory o'er the hills — 
Though on the morrow from the skies 

It fall in shades, 'tis morning still. 

Thus in the morn of life they stood. 

With promise of the brightest day ; 
But ah, alas! the tempter wooed, 

And sorrows gathered o'er their way ; 
For there I saw that manly form, 

Once so erect, and firm, and true, 
Lny prostrate 'neath the fiery storm 

Which from that seething wine-cup blew. 



Lizinka, and Other Poems. 19 

And tliere beside liim, young and fair, 

Though frail, and shattered by the strife, 
Bowed 'neath a cross she scarce could bear, 

The guardian angel of his bfe. 
But 'twas not age nor sin that chased 

The bloom from off that face so meek; 
But 't was the tears that often traced 

TJieir burning cliannels down that cheek. 

Again I looked upon the scene, 

In hopes to see some spirit come 
And stand with burnished shield between 

The helpless and their tiireatened doom; 
But onward moved the storm apace, 

Deep in the wine-cup's fiery wave, 
Until they both, swept, from the place, 

Togetiier sank into the grave. 

I turned away and clasped mine eyes, 

And said : ** O spirit, please depart! 
Leave not such visions 'neath the skies, 

Tiiey pierce like arrows througli my heart. 
Bash down the wine-cup ere it show 

The sorrow^s of another's breast — 
Or by enchantment it may flow 

And rol) another soul of rest." 

At this the angel spread her wings, 

And said: "I spted to uoihls unknown — 



20 . Idzinka, and Other Poems. 

No more to view these earthly things — 
Away ! away ! forever gone ! 

'T was for the sake of man I came, 

And brought this golden chalice down ; 

'Tis for his sake and in his name 
I cast its contents to the ground." 

Out poured the wine, and with it fell 

The dreams and visions of my sleep- 
Up rose the angel's sweet " farewell," . 

Like music stealing o'er the deep ; 
As once again her pinions spread, 

That like the sunbeams brightly shone, 
She rose, she smiled, and gently said, 
"Beware ! beware ! forever gone ! " 



THE TWO ANGELS. 



Two angels — Faith and Mercy — from above, 
All radiant with a bright, celestial glow — 

One with the smile of hope, the other love — 
Came on an errand to the world below. 

Faith bore a shield, all burnished like* the sun, 
Firm in her grasp, to meet the shafts of fate; 

But Mercy came with teai's to shed upon 
The hand of Vengeance, and to bid it wait. 



Liziiika, and Other Poems. 21 

Just as from earth and sky tlie light of day 
Had fled before the shadows of tlie iiiglit, 

The angels spread their wings to fly away, 
And at an humble cottage did alight. 

The world, with all its cares, had fallen asleep, 
And silence reigned as of the midnight hour, 

AVhile at the door no watchman stood to keep 
His vigils there, save one lone, tender flower. 

Within there lay, upon his bed of straw, 

A poor old man, with age and sorrow pressed. 

Who in his dreams two beauteous angels saw. 
And 'neath their gentle watchings found his rest* 

Then Faith to Mercy said, and firmly spake : 
** I come to close this humble cottage-door, 

And woe to every one who dares to break 
The slumbers sweet of him upon its floor." 

The darkening shadows went, and morning spread 
Her rosy light o'er dews that night did weep, 

When Mercy said, **I break the silken thread 
That binds the weary in the arms of sleep." 

Then from the world, "swift as the morning-light," 
Back to the land of never-fading beams 

Faith and Mercy took their rapid flight, 

As woke the sleeper from his pleasant dreams. 



22 Lizinka, and Other Poems. 

THE CHEERFUL OF EARTH. 



Life's ways were wearisome, 

Joyless and drearisome, 
Dark as a winter sky on a rough sea, 

Did not the cheerful ones, 

Loving ones, happy ones, 
Bless with their sunny smiles, joyous and free. 

Like as a bird that flies 

Under the darkened skies, 
When from the western hills cometh the storm, 

Yet sings her sweetest lay, 

So in the darkest day 
Speak they their sweetest words, loving and warm. 

Loud are their songs, but sweet; 

Kind are their words that greet 
Those at the " wayside inn," weary and worn ; 

Pure are their hearts that share, 

Strong are their hands that bear, 
Part of the burdens now wearily borne. 

Like as the bright'ning ray 

Chasing the shadows gray 
Over the summer-lands, swift as the wing; 

So into human life, 

Though with its shadows rife, 
Bright are the blessings that cheerful hearts bring. 



LizinJca, and Other Poeim. 23 

« Praised be the cheerful ones, 

Loving ones, happy ones ! 
Bless us with sunny smiles, cheer us witli mirth! 

Long be your mission here — 

Rest in a brighter sphere — 
Whose h)ve is from heaven, whose songs are for 

earth. 



THE LILY AXB GAZELLE. 

At my door a phiiit was growing, 
From precious seeds of my own sowing, 
Wiiose tender buds, in beauty bh)wing, 

Breathed their fragrance on the air. 
From the dawn of day ascending 
To its fall and quiet ending, 

'T was the object of my care. 

Freely round my cottage, skipping 
'Mong the green leaves — gently sipping 
Of the dew-drops, lightly dripping — 

Roariied a beautiful gazelle. 
Lithe of limb, with meek eyes beaming, 
It seemed a creature of my dreaming; 

Of its beauty none could tell. 

When the crescent moon was shining 
On (he lily's silver lining, 
As it gently waved, reclining, 



24 Xiizinha, and Other Poems. 

On its stalk, a pearly gem, « 

Came that gentle creature creeping, 
Through the dewy foliage peeping, 

And tore it from its parent stem. 

From my belt I drew the bristling, 

Bladed dagger; sent it glist'ning 

Through the moonlight, toward the listening 

Truant, with unerring art; 
And upon those dewy flowers, 
'Neath the shade of moonlit bowers, 

Poured the life-blood of its heart. 

Spring returned, with soft winds blowing. 
With its sunlight brightly glowing; 
And the flowers again were growing; 

But they brought me no relief; 
For to mind, in every feature. 
Came that meek and lovely creature — 

With it came again my grief. 

Let no careless word be spoken — 
Let no law of love be broken — 
That shall future woe betoken. 

Or shall cause one soul to weep. 
Man may rest beneath the willows; 
Time may hush its surging billows; 

Our regrets shall never sleep. 



1 



Lizinka, and Other Focms. 25 

THE SEASONS. 



What gentle nymph, or virgin sweet, is that, 
Who Cometh in her rohes of softest green, 

With garlands twined aronnd her rustic hat, 
That shades her eyes of beauty from the sheen 

Of vernal sunlight of unclouded skies, 

And with her magic wand bids flowers rise? 

The snow which wra})tin "mantling white" the fields, 
And icy chains that bound the brooks beneath, 

Have vanished at her coming, and revealed 
The secret power of her fragrant breath; 

The gentle Iambs are skipi)ing at her feet. 

While merry birds are warbling carols sweet. 

And who is she that cometh — not so sweet, 
But robed in garments of translucent beam — 

Who seeketh for some shady, cool retreat, 
To rest her form upon some crystal stream, 

To bathe her fervid brow and parched lip, 

Or withered garlands in its waves to dip? 

The harvest-fields, beneath her radiant glow. 
Now wave in golden seas of ripened grain. 

And happy reapers gleaming sickles throw. 
To gather in the treasures of her train — 

While smiling Plenty wreathes her horn in flowers. 

And pours her blessings in unmeasured showers. 



26 Lizinka, and Other Poems. 

But who is lie who comes with sober face — 
His vesture red witli blood of new-made wine— 

Whose tliin, gray locks fall scattering o'er his face, 
And round whose wrinkled brow dead leaves en- 
twine — 

Who blows his breath o'er mountain, hill, and vale. 

And leaves the sweetest flowers all dead and pale? 

He winds his horn: up starts the timid hare; 

The gentle fawn, with beating heart, is still; 
The cautious f )X creeps back into his lair, 

And flies the whistling partridge from the hill; 
Tlie finny tribes no longer sport and gleam, 
But start to see his shadow on the stream. 

Anrl who is he — yon aged patriarch, 

All wrapt in furs — with snow-besprinkled beard, 
With years oppressed, as if he did embark 

Upon this life before the world was reared? 
Each flower and tree with freezing breath he shakes, 
And chills the world at every step he takes. 

The ruffled lakes and gently-gliding streams, 
So joyous in their life and motions wild, 

Stop at his approach, and golden gleams 

Rise coldly where in beauty once they smiled, 

While on their shores he builds his icy throne. 

And rules the world as if it were his own. 



Jjizinka, and Other Poems. 27 

TO A VIOLET. 

On Seeing One after an April Shower. 

Tiiou modest, purple-mantled flower — 
Tlie sweetest 'neath my garden -bower — 
I ask of Nature's richest dower 

No costlier boon 
Than thee, washed by the gentle sliower 

Of vernal noon. 

Thou earnest of the rainbow hue. 
Caught from tlie heaven's ethereal blue, 
To be impearled in rain-drop dew 

While thou art here. 
And with thy fragrance to imbue 

This lowly sphere. 

Though "flaunting flowers," of colors gay, 
Eivaling the glow of dying day, 
Or golden clouds along its way, 

Should call for me, 
I would not seek such vain array, 

But stay with thee. 

With thee, sweet flower, I cannot part, 
Unpierced by Cupid's glittering dart. 
Thy modest mien hath stolen my heart, 

Which throbs to love, 
And throbs to thee; for love thou art. 

Sent from above. 



28 Lizinha, and Other Poems. 

Yet some do seem to spy thee not, 
Looking with pride above thy lot, 
Beyond this low but* lovely spot, 

Where thou dost lie; 
Or else perhaps they have forgot 

Thy briglit blue eye. 

Thus is the fate of modest worth — 
The lowly but the good of earth, 
Whose poverty or humble birth 

Is all their blame, 
And for whose deeds there is a dearth 

Of worthy fame. 

Let those of vanity and pride 
The poor and lowly ones deride, 
Yet on one truth they may abide: 

No power of earth 
Can fix their station, nor decide 

Their real worth. 



BEAUTIFUL SHELLS. 



On thy banks, fair Tennessee, 
In days agone there used to be, 
According to my memory, 

Beautiful shells. 



Liz'inka, and Other Poems. 29 

Deep within thy bosom — deep 
'Neath tliy waves— they used to sleep, 
Lulled by tlie murmurs of thy sweep — 
Those beautiful shells. 

On swept thy waves, as oft before, 
And left those shells upon tliy shore, 
Just as they were — and nothing more — 
Beautiful shells. 

But soon there came an idle day 
Of pleasure, and we strolled away 
From busy cares to rest where lay 

Those beautiful shells. 

Deep in the bright autumnal woods, 
Down by tiiy beach, where none intrudes. 
We sought amidst those solitudes 

Those beautiful shells. 

And there we found them, pure and white, 
Shining in the autumn light, 
Kissed by thy crystal waves so bright — 
Those beautiful shells. 

Thus, in our hearts and in. our eyes, 
We count them as a common prize — 
The magic of fond memories — 

Tho.<:e Ijcautiful slulls. 



30 Lizinka, and Other Poems. 

And when long years of time liath flown, 
May we tlien say, They are our own 
Remembrances of things agone — 

Those beautiful shells. 



GATHERING. 



While tlie fields are whitening 
With harvests full and free. 

While tlie sails are floating 
O'er a boundless sea, 

Shall we wait for gathering 
In eternity? 

Gather from the pathway 
Tender buds that grow ; 

Gather from the valleys 

Fragrant flowers that blow ; 

Gather from tlie branches 
Golden fruits that glow. 

Let the mind be drinking 

Of Pierian springs; 
Let good words be flying 

On unfettered wings; 
Let the actions savor 

Of the noblest thinjis. 



Lizinka, and Other Fooiis. 



31 



Ask not of our fellows, 
"Wliat shall the harvest be?" 
But reap the fields around us — 

Sheaves that we may see — 
Sheaves that make the harvest 

Of eternily. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRP<:<: 

HIP 



